Environmental Stewards learn from Instructor Lisa Evrard how to use bio-indicators to characterize water quality in streams. / Photo courtesy of Bruce M. Barbour

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SOUTH BRUNSWICK — For nearly 10 years, the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program, which is offered by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, has motivated local residents to focus on preserving and appreciating the environment.

The lesson will continue when, every Wednesday evening from Jan. 8 to May 14, classes will be presented at the EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave. in South Brunswick, for participants who are interested in learning more about the science behind environmental issues.

The aim of the program is for graduates to apply their knowledge by making a positive change in their communities after becoming aware of basic processes of earth, air, water, and biological systems. The tools and techniques used to monitor the environment’s condition, as well as the regulatory infrastructure of state and federal agencies operating in New Jersey are also addressed.

Michele Bakacs, program coordinator, said that 60 hours of intense classroom time includes lectures from guest speakers addressing a wide range of topics such as water management, climate change, energy conservation, and restoration of urban areas.

Communication, conflict resolution and leadership skills also are taught so that the graduates will be able to carry the lessons they learned into their communities.

The Warren County office of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension hosts northern classes; Central Jersey classes are conducted in Somerset County at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, while classes in the coastal region are held at the Atlantic County Utility Authority. Others sites also may be used.

The program took its roots from the Master Gardener Program. However, in this program, the stewards must complete 60-hour volunteer internships for nonprofit or governmental organizations or at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES).

“I’m really impressed with the graduates of the program,” Bakacs said. “They are incredibly motivated and excited about their projects, and it is phenomenal what they have been able to accomplish.”

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Stewards for life

Arnold Mercer of Lebanon, a graduate of the 2012 class, was a master gardener who also took interest in environmental issues. He found an ad for the program and signed up.

The retired engineer hoped to find a project that might utilize his background in electrical engineering, but soon found himself assisting staff at the Rutgers EcoComplex and completing a 28-page “Assessment of Food Waste Generation in Mercer County.” His project was officially completed in January.

“I grew to understand the huge volume of food scraps being disposed of and that there are alternatives to dumping 33 tons of waste in landfills,” Mercer said. “Alternate fuels are certainly a beneficial way of using these scraps, although we are probably a little way off from this becoming a widespread movement.”

During his internship, Mercer investigated sources of food waste that could be used instead for anaerobic digestion to biomethane and compost. He built upon the information contained the 2007 NJ Biomass Assessment conducted by NJAES and added additional current information for Mercer County.

He also collected data about the quantity and characteristics of food waste sources in Mercer County amassed by restaurants, schools, hospitals, food processors, grocery stores and other large generators.

“I received a good, basic education in all aspects of the environment,” he said. “The Rutgers professors covered a wide range of topics that were very educating and enlightening.”

Going organic

Ila Gillenwater of Warren, who was involved in her community’s “Green Team,” learned about the Environmental Stewards program from the team’s chairwoman, Laura Mandell, who attended the Rutgers program with her.

“I loved the idea that the program would give me exposure to a lot of issues about the environment and sustainability over a short period of time,” she said.

When it came time for her internship, Gillenwater became involved with Organic Diversion, an organization that has worked with past interns from the program.

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Organic Diversion provides the knowledge and training to ensure a successful organics recycling program. With long-term experience in both the food service industry and in organics collections and hauling, the Organic Diversion team is focused on establishing strong relationships, superior training, operational efficiency and maximum diversion rates resulting in lower disposal costs. They also offer chain-wide, multi-state organic recycling solutions for food waste generators.

Gillenwater said that her function as a coach on the project was to visit clients once a month to assess how they disposed of their food waste. These facilities included pharmaceutical companies, schools and universities, supermarkets and restaurants.

Through her internship, she was able to help those in charge of the facilities understand how and why proper sorting of recycling is important. Composting food scraps lowers operating costs, increases New Jersey recycling rates and helps the environment by diverting food waste out of the landfills to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Gillenwater would report back to Organic Diversion about her findings.

“As a coach, I was able to go in there and help those operating the facilities to understand how and why they should sort properly. Every little bit helps,” she said. “It was like a ‘pay-it-forward.’ ”

While Gillenwater attended the class in 2011, she officially received certification in 2013.

Her experience with the Environmental Stewards program will help Gillenwater further her goals as she strives to move her career, originally in ad sales, one focused on sustainability and environmental issues.